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Wednesday, 23 November 2016

Pep Up Your Voice

Lesson 3

Speech Skill: ExpressionThe Speech Problem

Speaking
in a monotonous voice is a real communication killer. When the variety of your
voice’s pitch doesn’t vary, it’s impossible for your listener to maintain any
interest in what you’re saying. He tunes out – quickly. Once again, your
message falls by the wayside.

But even
if he did hear it, he probably wouldn’t believe it.

People
who speak in a monotone or with inappropriate expression in their voices are
perceived as untrustworthy, boring, or even shifty. As a business, sales or professional
person, you can see why you’d want to fix this sloppy speech problem right
away!

Other
Speech Problems of Expression

Now, you
may be saying to yourself (with a sigh of relief), “I certainly don’t speak in
a monotone!” That’s excellent news, but unfortunately, the obvious monotone,
where there is no variety of pitch in the voice, is only one sloppy speech
habit related to expression. A far more common problem is a lack of appropriate
vocal variety, or, as I call it, tired voice.

If you
have tired voice, your speech just doesn’t convey the appropriate emotional
shadings and vitality that make people’s voices interesting and pleasant to
hear. Think of it this way; your voice is as much a part of your signature
style as the colour of your eyes or the way you walk.

People
can identify you by these signature traits. And in some cases, people have
developed “signature” voices that are grating, braying, booming or otherwise
just downright unpleasant for other people to listen to – because their voices
are not suitably expressive.

The good
news is that having a monotonous or tired voice is not a life sentence.

Everyone
can change their signature voice (to some degree, barring physical
complications) – just as we can change the way we walk or even the colour of
our eyes.

Speech
Exercise: Emotion Sentences

The
purpose of this exercise is to practice getting more vocal variety into your
speech, so you are going to be saying these sentences in different ways.

First,
say the sentence out loud as you would if you were ecstatically happy.

Then say
the same sentence out loud as you would if you were extremely sad.

I just got a call saying
that I won a vacation in Las Vegas.

I’m going to have to change
that light bulb.

Our town now has a new
recycling program.

My next door neighbour is
moving out next week.

I’ll be able to retire in
only two more years.

Speech
Exercise: Belief Sentences

The
purpose of this exercise is to practice conveying meaning through expression in
your speech, so once again, you are going to be saying these sentences in
different ways.

First,
say the sentence out loud as you would if you truly believed the statement.

Then say
the same sentence out loud as you would if you didn’t believe what you were
saying and wanted to convey your disbelief to your listener.

You’ll never regret buying
one of these.

This extended warranty is a
great deal.

This is definitely a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

What I’m doing now is the
best thing I’ve ever done.

I am the best at what I do.

Speech
Exercise: Drama Queens and Kings

The
Benefits of Improving Your Speech Expression

As your
voice expression increases, your listeners will:

Be more interested in what
you’re saying and more attentive;

Be more likely to be
receptive to you and the message you’re communicating.

Speech
Lesson 3 Homework Assignment

Set aside
a minimum of 15 minutes a day this week to work on your voice expression.

Start by
working through the exercises on and linked to this page. You will want to go
through each of these speech exercises at least three times.

In
addition, you’ll want to start working with other passages. As I suggest at the
end of the Drama Queens and Kings exercise, published plays in any book are an
excellent source of material for improving your expression speech skill.
Reading poetry out loud is another excellent practice.

Perhaps
the best source of speech exercise material is children’s books. When we read
one of these aloud to a child, we tend to try out a variety of different voices
and exaggerate the expression in our voices in response to the child’s response
as we read.

If you
have no children’s books (or children) on hand, remember that any fiction will
work. Reading Shakespeare aloud, for instance, is wonderful practice. Use your
fifteen minutes a day to read out loud. It’s best if you read to an audience,
as having an audience will help you focus on using expression to interest (and
perhaps enthral) your listeners.

Over
time, as you consistently practice this speech skill, you’ll find your
“signature” voice change - becoming both more expressive and more pleasing.